NLN Physical Assessment Exam
Questions and Answers9
1. A 70-year-old patient reports flank pain and a fever. Which additional findings, if noted,
would indicate to a nurse that the patient might have renal colic or calculi? - ANSWERS-positive
CVA tenderness
2. Which of these interpretations should a nurse make when a patient who has a mastectomy
has an onset of sweating, palpitations, tachycardia, and diarrhea? - ANSWERS-This is suggestive
of dumping syndrome.
3. Which of these manifestations should a nurse assess as suggestive of arterial insufficiency of
the lower extremities? - ANSWERS-diminished pedal pulses
4. A nurse should expect a patient who is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism to report which of
these manifestations? - ANSWERS-heat intolerance
5. Which of these assessment findings, if present, would indicate to a nurse that an infant has
developmental hip dysplasia? - ANSWERS-the presence of asymmetric gluteal folds
6. Which of these manifestations should a nurse expect to assess in a patient who has
hyperphosphatemia? - ANSWERS-oral numbness
7. Which of these manifestations should a nurse expect to assess in a patient who has central
cord syndrome? - ANSWERS-greater motor loss in upper rather than lower extremities
8. Which of these physical assessment findings, if identified in a patient who has CHF, requires
follow-up by a nurse? - ANSWERS-dyspnea on exertion
, 9. When examining a newborn infant, which of these sinuses should a nurse expect to be absent
at birth? - ANSWERS-frontal
10. Which of these instructions should a nurse include when teaching testicular self-
examination? - ANSWERS-roll each testicle gently between your thumb and fingers
11. While assessing a patient, a nurse notes the following findings: poor skin turgor, decreased
blood pressure, and a rapid pulse. The patient reports having flu-like symptoms, including
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for the past three days. Based on the above data, which of these
laboratory tests should the patient have? - ANSWERS-Urine osmolarity, BUN, and hematocrit
12. Which of these manifestations is suggestive of a UTI in a 6-year-old? - ANSWERS-Enuresis
13. To assess for Chvostek's sign, which of these actions should a nurse do? - ANSWERS-Tap over
the facial nerve anterior to the ear and observe for twitching
14. When assessing an adolescent for scoliosis, which of these actions should a nurse include? -
ANSWERS-Ask the adolescent to bend forward at the waist
15. A nurse if planning to perform a physical assessment of the abdomen. The nurse should
perform which of these assessments last? - ANSWERS-palpation
16. Which of these manifestations should a nurse expect to assess in a patient who has chronic
anorexia nervosa? - ANSWERS-constipation
17. Which if these manifestations should a nurse expect to observe in a 3-month-old infant who
is diagnosed with dehydration? - ANSWERS-tachycardia
Questions and Answers9
1. A 70-year-old patient reports flank pain and a fever. Which additional findings, if noted,
would indicate to a nurse that the patient might have renal colic or calculi? - ANSWERS-positive
CVA tenderness
2. Which of these interpretations should a nurse make when a patient who has a mastectomy
has an onset of sweating, palpitations, tachycardia, and diarrhea? - ANSWERS-This is suggestive
of dumping syndrome.
3. Which of these manifestations should a nurse assess as suggestive of arterial insufficiency of
the lower extremities? - ANSWERS-diminished pedal pulses
4. A nurse should expect a patient who is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism to report which of
these manifestations? - ANSWERS-heat intolerance
5. Which of these assessment findings, if present, would indicate to a nurse that an infant has
developmental hip dysplasia? - ANSWERS-the presence of asymmetric gluteal folds
6. Which of these manifestations should a nurse expect to assess in a patient who has
hyperphosphatemia? - ANSWERS-oral numbness
7. Which of these manifestations should a nurse expect to assess in a patient who has central
cord syndrome? - ANSWERS-greater motor loss in upper rather than lower extremities
8. Which of these physical assessment findings, if identified in a patient who has CHF, requires
follow-up by a nurse? - ANSWERS-dyspnea on exertion
, 9. When examining a newborn infant, which of these sinuses should a nurse expect to be absent
at birth? - ANSWERS-frontal
10. Which of these instructions should a nurse include when teaching testicular self-
examination? - ANSWERS-roll each testicle gently between your thumb and fingers
11. While assessing a patient, a nurse notes the following findings: poor skin turgor, decreased
blood pressure, and a rapid pulse. The patient reports having flu-like symptoms, including
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for the past three days. Based on the above data, which of these
laboratory tests should the patient have? - ANSWERS-Urine osmolarity, BUN, and hematocrit
12. Which of these manifestations is suggestive of a UTI in a 6-year-old? - ANSWERS-Enuresis
13. To assess for Chvostek's sign, which of these actions should a nurse do? - ANSWERS-Tap over
the facial nerve anterior to the ear and observe for twitching
14. When assessing an adolescent for scoliosis, which of these actions should a nurse include? -
ANSWERS-Ask the adolescent to bend forward at the waist
15. A nurse if planning to perform a physical assessment of the abdomen. The nurse should
perform which of these assessments last? - ANSWERS-palpation
16. Which of these manifestations should a nurse expect to assess in a patient who has chronic
anorexia nervosa? - ANSWERS-constipation
17. Which if these manifestations should a nurse expect to observe in a 3-month-old infant who
is diagnosed with dehydration? - ANSWERS-tachycardia
